She ordered him to crack open the dated egg he had made fun of her for purchasing!
My spouse made fun of me for purchasing a tiny enameled egg from the flea market, but he had no idea what was in store for him.
I have to admit right away that I have a flea market addiction. I can’t help but be drawn to the idea of going through a hundred lifetimes’ worth of debris in search of a hidden gem.
My grandma used to take me to New England for the summers when I was eleven years old. Our weekends used to be spent exploring every street fair and flea market within a hundred miles of each other, referring to her finds as “preloved jewels.”
As a mother and grandmother, I can attest that there’s no feeling quite like the thrill of sifting among a variety of odd objects and coming across what appears to be a buried gem.
My partner can’t even begin to comprehend it. Sam is a wonderful, giving, and diligent man, but he just does not get why I have to sort through the rubbish in search of treasure.
According to my spouse, the primary issue we have is that I am always bringing home “preloved jewels,” or hoarded rubbish. Even if I really don’t want to, it would probably be easier for me to just give up my small interest.
Nothing pleases me more than packing a weekend pocket full of $20 and heading to a flea market in hopes of finding a Van Gogh for fifty cents. Sam, no matter how much he tells me I’m squandering money and collecting junk, I’m not going to give it up.
Let me tell you how this miracle happened. He wanted to come this weekend, so he hasn’t been complaining about it lately.
I went to a nearby town’s street fair on a Saturday morning about a month ago. I was ecstatic as my natural ability to find the best deals took me to a tiny display where a man was peddling trinkets.
Between the bisque shepherdesses and the porcelain cups, a small egg-sized porcelain and enamel egg was found. Even though it wasn’t a particularly unique or appealing piece, I still wanted it.
How much does the egg cost? I posed a query to the man. His beady eyes were fixed intently on me. I could sense him rummaging through my wallet and work clothes, wondering how much I could afford.
“Just $25, lady, and let me tell you, it’s a bargain!” exclaimed the man. I shook my head, terrified, knowing how the game was played.
“A cheap china egg for twenty-five dollars?” With that, I said, “I’ll give you $5.”
What is garbage to one man may be treasure to another.
“FIVE DOLLARS!” The man gasped in return as well. For this tiny bit of past? For this little gem? This is French porcelain, lady.
“Just that!” “So, when I turn it over, the words “made in China” won’t be imprinted there?” I questioned myself.
I took advantage of his hesitation because I could tell he wasn’t sure. The speaker said, “I’ll take it for $10, without touching it.”
After accepting my ten bucks, the man wrapped the egg in newspaper and muttered something to himself. I was ecstatic! Something seemed to fit the egg. I looked about the fair for a while, but I wasn’t all that interested in it. After locating my gift, I left for home.
I smiled as I arrived and planted a kiss on Sam. He was reading his newspaper while seated on the couch. “Hey, sweetie,” he said. Any rubbish discovered?
Hi there! Indeed, in a way. I removed the neatly wrapped egg from my handbag and gently cracked it open.
Sam gave it a doubtful glance. Is it limited to just that? Is that what you discovered?
Yes, isn’t it beautiful? I started crying.
He inquired, flipping the egg over in his palms, “What’s it for?”
“I think it was a jewelry box,” was my response. “Can you see the hinges and the little metal latch?” I picked up the egg and gave it a go.
With a flip of the egg, Sam shot back, “I think it’s rusted shut.” “Look, it makes sense! Produced in Hong Kong! What was the price you had to pay for it?
I grabbed for the egg as I started to flush. I objected, saying, “Ten dollars, but the man was asking for twenty-five.”
Sam mockingly laughed at me. “You were fooled once more!”
Tears started to well up in my eyes. “Well, it’s pleasant.” I heard something move within the small egg when I gave it a shake. “There’s something inside!”
As soon as he plucked the egg out of my hand, Sam hissed, “Oh, it’s definitely a diamond.” With a sly twist of his strong fingers, he cracked open the egg. There was a small bundle of red silk tucked inside.
I removed the small gift and opened it with care. A set of earrings shone among the creases in the scarlet fabric. They were really very beautiful! They were obviously fakes, but they were also incredibly lovely replicas, in my opinion.
Sam picked up one of the earrings and gave it a close inspection. Sam took a breath on the transparent center stone with the green gem aura surrounding it. He gasped as he glanced at the earring.
He said, “Jen, I think these are real.”
“What?” I let out a cry. “Explain your meaning.”
According to this diamond documentary, it is a real diamond. There was a long back that I could not see through breath. Take a look at this! I exhaled again on the large transparent stone.
I looked it over. Not a mist. I shook my head and turned to face Sam. “Hun, check out the size of those stones.” Millions would be at their disposal! Simply said, they are excellent impersonators.
Sam, though, was ecstatic. “Let’s go have that mall jeweler appraise them.”
Sam was going to charge us for it, I informed him.
Sam didn’t seem to care that we drove to the mall and waited tensely for the man to try on the earrings and mumble beneath them. He said, “Yes, these are diamonds paired with eighteen carats of white gold.”
These seem like real emeralds. Everything is exhausted. The style and craftsmanship of these earrings suggest that they are most likely Art Deco. The number of stones in question is likely in the range of three hundred, however it could go higher based on the quality of the stones.
“Three hundred bucks?” Sam enquired.
Sam was going to charge us for it, I informed him.
Sam didn’t seem to care that we drove to the mall and waited tensely for the man to try on the earrings and mumble beneath them. He said, “Yes, these are diamonds paired with eighteen carats of white gold.”
These seem like real emeralds. Everything is exhausted. The style and craftsmanship of these earrings suggest that they are most likely Art Deco. The number of stones in question is likely in the range of three hundred, however it could go higher based on the quality of the stones.
“Three hundred bucks?” Sam enquired.
Sam, on the other hand, has grown very fond of antiques and now goes to every flea market and antique fair with me. Even though we haven’t located that Van Gogh yet, there is yet hope!
What lessons may we draw from this tale?
What is garbage to one man may be treasure to another. Jen was right when she was certain she would discover a “preloved jewel.”
Acknowledge the interests of others. Sam made fun of Jen for her passion for flea markets, but in the end, she discovered a $3 million pair of earrings.
Talk about this tale with your pals. It can encourage people to provide a helping hand to others or share their own story.
